- KNUT and KUPPET have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government over insecurity following the killing of JSS teacher Mark Lemaramba in Samburu.
- The unions have warned that they will withdraw teachers from high-risk areas of Samburu East if authorities fail to act within the given timeframe.
- Investigative agencies have opened inquiries into the killing as efforts continue to establish the circumstances of the attack and trace the perpetrators.
Teachers’ unions have given the government seven days to address insecurity in Samburu following the killing of a Junior Secondary School (JSS) teacher in the county.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) said they would consider withdrawing teachers from areas considered high-risk if authorities fail to take action within the stipulated period.
The unions raised the alarm on Tuesday over the safety of teachers working in parts of Samburu, saying the latest incident had heightened concerns over attacks on educators in the region.
The teacher, identified as Mark Lemaramba of Nguitongon Comprehensive School, was reportedly attacked at his home. The assailants are said to have killed him and taken away some of his livestock.
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Samburu KNUT Secretary-General Richard Lentaya condemned the killing and called on investigative agencies to move quickly in establishing what happened.
He said several teachers had lost their lives in the region, yet the response to such cases had not been sufficient to reassure educators working in areas affected by insecurity.
“We condemn the killing of our teacher and demand swift action from the relevant authorities,” Lentaya said.
He called for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the teacher’s death and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
The KUPPET Samburu branch has meanwhile warned that teachers could be withdrawn from some parts of Samburu East if the security situation is not addressed.
Chapter Secretary-General Peter Leteipa said the union had given the government seven days to act, including securing teachers deployed in areas considered dangerous.
He said the union would take further action if the deadline expires without a response from the authorities.
“We express our deep condemnation following the tragic killing of JSS teacher Mark Lemaramba, a teacher at Nguitongon Comprehensive School. The union will be forced to implement the following measures to safeguard its members: Immediate withdrawal of teachers from high-risk or affected areas of Samburu East. Organising protests and petitions at the sub-county and county headquarters to exert maximum pressure on security agencies to take action,” he said.
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The union warned that failure to meet its demands would see teachers organise demonstrations and present petitions to security authorities at both sub-county and county levels.
The two unions said teachers should not be expected to work in areas where their safety cannot be guaranteed, urging security agencies to strengthen protection in affected parts of Samburu.
Investigative agencies have since opened inquiries into the killing as efforts continue to establish the circumstances of the attack and trace those responsible.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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